Study: Facebook Use Could Be Harmful To Romantic Relationships

View of the Facebook homepage taken in Washington on May 6, 2012. Facebook, already assured of becoming one of the most valuable US firms when it goes public later this month, now must convince investors in the next two weeks that it is worth all the hype. Top executives at the world's leading social network have kicked off their all-important road show on Wall Street -- an intense marketing drive ahead of the company's expected trading launch on the tech-heavy Nasdaq on May 18. AFP PHOTO/Nicholas KAMM (Photo credit should read NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/GettyImages)

File photo of the Facebook homepage. (Photo by NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/GettyImages)

SAN ANTONIO (CBS Houston) – The findings of a recent study indicate that excessive use of the social networking site Facebook could potentially damage romantic relationships.

Several researchers from different schools throughout the nation, including St. Mary’s University doctoral student Jessica R. Smith who is based in San Antonio, worked together to observe the effects of frequent Facebook interaction on the users’ romantic partners.

Users between the ages of 18 and 32 participated in the study, which was led by University of Missouri School of Journalism doctoral student Russell Clayton, Newsroom America is reporting.

During the study, participants were asked about the amount of time spent on Facebook and any conflicts that arose from occurrences while on site. Through their survey, researchers reportedly found that more frequent use of Facebook led to an increase in conflict caused by Facebook interactions.

“Previous research has shown that the more a person in a romantic relationship uses Facebook, the more likely they are to monitor their partner’s Facebook activity more stringently, which can lead to feelings of jealousy,” Clayton was quoted as saying by the website. “Facebook-induced jealousy may lead to arguments concerning past partners.”

He added, “Also, our study found that excessive Facebook users are more likely to connect or reconnect with other Facebook users, including previous partners, which may lead to emotional and physical cheating.”

Newsroom America learned that researchers observed an especially high rate of Facebook-related conflict in newer relationships.